Bath residents could get a discount on using council-run car parks as part of a major shakeup.

Bath and North East Somerset Council announced today (January 24) that residents parking for three hours or less could see the cost reduced in a bid to prioritise residents and disabled users while supporting local traders and independent businesses.

If the proposals are given the go-ahead, this would be the first time the cost of parking in a council-run car park has changed in eight years.

But while people using short-stay car parks could see the cost drop, charges for long-stay parking would be increased - encouraging more people to use public transport.

Charlotte Street car park (Image: Paulgillisphoto.com)

Councillor Mark Shelford (Conservative, Lyncombe), cabinet member for transport and environment, said: “We’ve listened to what residents have told us is important to them.

“From this we have developed the three key principles of putting residents first, improving air quality and making the park and ride even more of an attractive option compared to long stay parking in the city centre, whilst at the same time supporting our local shops and traders."

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The proposed changes are an attempt to encourage more people to use the park and ride and public transport in a bid to reduce traffic pressures in the city centre.

The cost of parking in the park and ride will not be increased.

Cars at the Odd Down park and ride

Mr Shelford continued: “We carried out an extensive consultation last year which showed broad support for the aims of our Parking Strategy, in particular using long-stay parking charges to encourage the use of park and rides or public transport.

“In Keynsham, we are proposing to freeze the cost of parking for up to three hours, and we are protecting the existing free parking in local community car parks across the area.

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“Any revenue the council raises from parking charges is used to support investment in local transport initiatives, such as Safer Routes to School schemes, as well as action to reduce traffic and tackle air pollution and to cover the cost of enforcement.”

All Bath residents will be able to get 10 per cent off both on-street and off-street parking in Bath, meaning costs for short stays under 4 hours would stay broadly the same.

The changes include

Avon Street Car Park in Bath (Image: Artur Lesniak)

A new flat hourly rate of £1.60 will be introduced across all the Council’s off-street car parks in Bath, including Charlotte Street, Manvers Street and Avon Street, capped at a maximum charge of £15 a day.

All residents of Bath & North East Somerset will be eligible for a discount of 10% on both on-street and off-street parking charges in Bath, meaning the cost of short-stay parking for residents will either be reduced or broadly remain the same.

The discounted evening rate from 6pm at Charlotte Street car park will remain in place, as will the hour’s free parking at Royal Victoria Park.

The cost of Residents Parking Permits will be frozen at their current rate, meaning the cost of these permits has now been frozen since March 2013.

Free on-street parking will continue to be protected on Sundays for everyone.

In Keynsham, to support the High Street and local traders, the cost of parking for up to three hours will be frozen, with slight increases in the cost of long-stay parking. The 4-hour charge in Keynsham is proposed to become 90p; the 8-hour charge £1.60; and the 10-hour charge £2.10.

The standard on-street parking charge in Bath, before a residents’ discount, would be £2.50 for the first hour, then an extra £1 for each hour thereafter. The charge in the premium zone spaces would be £3.40 for the first hour, then an extra £1.10 for each hour thereafter. The charge in the ultra-premium zone spaces would be £3.80 for the first hour, then an extra £1.60 for each hour thereafter. Most on-street parking is limited to a maximum of two-hours, though in some locations it is up to 4-hours.

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The 10 per cent discount for B&NES residents is only available when purchasing a ticket through the council’s cashless provider.

Residents will have to sign up for the service and must prove their residency before receiving the discount.

The changes are to be discussed at the council's cabinet meeting on February 7 and if approved, there would be a public consultation.

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